Alexandre Vinokourov, co-leader of Team Astana, departs tomorrow for Tirreno-Adriatico (where he finished 3rd in 2007), while Alberto Contador contests Paris-Nice. Vinokourov began his 2010 season at the Tour Mediterranean in France and will rely heavily on the Tirreno-Adriatico to signal a comeback.

Vinokourov sat down for a question & answer session before the start:

Is Tirreno-Adriatico your real season start?

It represents a lot to me because I raced Paris-Nice the last few years, I have not forgotten that 3 years ago, I finished 3rd in this race. This year is even more special, I feel like I'm starting a new career by participating in Tirreno.

You appear to feel as motivated as a junior.

This is indeed the case. For two years, I had not experienced the joys of a season of racing. These are moments that I want to enjoy fully, because I know there won’t be so many to come.

Your goals have changed?

I am realistic. I am no longer twenty years old, and I know that my best years are behind me. B I'm 36 years old, but I will not give up. If I have decided to continue my career, it’s because I know I still have things to do on a bike.

What are your goals?

I do not want to settle down. It is also the privilege of age, to say that I have nothing to prove. Everything I do from now on will only be a bonus. In French, we say that this is the cherry on the cake, that's it, everything I earn from now will be good to enjoy.

You seem more radiant (enthusiastic) than before.

No doubt, the hardships of life made me think. I experienced this in the early 2000s with the loss of my friend Andrei Kivilev, that really shocked me. This drama gave me much strength for the rest of my career. It also helped me to keep perspective, like what happened during the 2007 Tour de France 2007.

That episode could have made you leave the bike scene.

That's what I thought instantly. The shock of the event was terrible to accept, not only for me but for my relatives and my fans. It was a difficult to be thrown on the roadside like a bandit without the right nor the means to defend himself, and no opportunity to give some explanations.

That's what everybody expected, however.

One day, perhaps, I should have the opportunity to do it when everything will be calm, when life will have returned to normal. In my country of Kazakhstan, we hate conflicts and tensions. We prefer to let the storm pass before to let the truth appear.

You blame nobody?

I am not vindictive, it is not in my mentality. Besides, I have no reason to be, because I am now back on a bike to compete at the highest level. What I was the most disturbed by in recent years is being in the center of a controversy which stained the image of my sport. I never wanted that.

Do you feel accountable to the sport of cycling?

In a way, yes. If I have hurt my sport through the case of the 2007 Tour de France, I am here today to be forgotten. I always maintained my innocence, but when nobody listens to you, you should know to let it go. I quickly realized this, and this is the reason why I asked my lawyer to stop my legal proceedings. I did not want it to get worse and go on longer.

Do you feel that you have paid?

Accepting the two-year ban was a way for me to say, "Ok, well, if I have to go through it to find my place in the world of cycling, let's go."

What vision of you does the world of cycling have?

I felt no resentment since my return in August. Instead, I feel that everyone was happy to see me. My popularity is still the same, and what matters most: the expressions of support from the fans never stopped.

Will you take the start of the next Tour de France?

I do not know, and I understand the prudence of the organizers. They enforce their race, which is the most beautiful contest in the world. If I am returned to competition, it is also to show that I am an honest and right competitor. I believe I deserve another chance, and it is also for me to grasp.

You have the support of the Astana team.

This team is built to help Alberto Contador win the Tour de France a third time. I'd love to help, and to know, once my career is over, that I helped my leader as a crew member to win the Tour. The Kazakh follow cycling with passion, this would be the best gift to them. For this time, that would really be a team victory, also associated with my name. This is also a way to prove that our team, which some imagine is not as good than in other years, is very strong.

Interview courtesy Team Astana and edited by Specialized.